Supporting Autistic Preschoolers Through a Trauma-Informed Lens

Autistic preschoolers are often misunderstood when trauma is part of their story. Behaviors may be labeled as “noncompliance,” “sensory,” or “just autism,” when a child’s nervous system may actually be responding to stress, fear, or unmet emotional needs.

This session explores how trauma and autism can overlap in early childhood and how that overlap appears in communication, behavior, play, regulation, and learning. Participants will learn to recognize signs that may be trauma-related rather than solely autism-related and how to adjust their approach using trauma-informed strategies that prioritize safety, connection, and regulation.

Attendees will leave with practical, immediately usable tools for classrooms, therapy sessions, and home settings to better support preschoolers with autism through a compassionate, trauma- informed lens.